Compare towns
Washington vs Epping vs Wells vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Wells has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Washington | Epping | Wells | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,056 |
7,430Highest |
1,148 |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
| Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 30% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Epping and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485 12% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Epping School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.